2.5 Million Visit 'Seoul International Garden Expo'... Seongsu District Sales Surge by 30%

Analysis of Seoul’s “Stay Population” Data

Sales Up 31.5%, Local Population Up 20.4%

Short-Term Foreign Tourists Also Attracted for Sightseeing

The "2026 Seoul International Garden Expo," which opened on May 1 and reached its 20th day on May 20, has surpassed a total of 2.5 million visitors. Sales in the Seongsu area increased by 31%, and the local daytime population also grew by 20%.

On May 20, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the results of its analysis of the daytime and stay populations, as well as card spending data, in the areas of Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong during the period of the International Garden Expo (May 1–10).

View of Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, where the Seoul International Garden Expo is being held. May 4, 2026 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

During the expo, the average daily local population was approximately 42,300, demonstrating a 20.4% increase from April and confirming the event’s effect in attracting people to the area. Notably, even on weekdays, the local population rose by 25.1% compared to normal periods.

The highest population density was recorded at 2 PM on the opening day, May 1. At that moment, as many as 76,000 people were present in the Seoul Forest area. By gender and age, women accounted for the largest proportion at 54.9%, while people in their 30s made up 24.0%. The group showing the largest week-on-week increase was women in their 40s.

This influx of people translated into increased local spending. During the expo, the average daily domestic credit card spending in the Seongsu-dong area surged by 31.5% compared to April, while the number of transactions rose by 25.6%. The highest card spending was recorded on the opening day, May 1, at 1.15 billion won. Leading sectors included restaurants and cafes (including popular eateries), convenience stores, and specialty coffee shops.

Both the number of visitors and their length of stay increased on weekends and major event days. Even after events ended, the trend of visitors remaining in the area continued. Across all age groups, the proportion of people staying for 1–2 hours was highest at 32%, while those staying for 2–4 hours accounted for 24%.

Additionally, among short-term foreign tourists visiting Seoul, 34.3% visited the Seoul Forest garden for 1–2 hours. Among these tourists, 8.5% stayed in the area for more than six hours, combining accommodation and sightseeing, which was a notably high proportion.

Kim Younghwan, Director General of the Garden City Bureau at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "This analysis proves that the garden expo is not merely a large-scale event attracting many visitors, but a new urban festival model where citizens can relax for extended periods and invigorate the local economy. We will continue to operate this expo safely and comfortably through the fall, with the goal of completing 'Garden City Seoul.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.